Aberdeen FC legend Eric Black has been accused of giving undercover reporters advice on how to bribe officials at other clubs.
The Gothenburg hero will be named in the latest story in the Daily Telegraph’s corruption investigation, which led to ex-England boss Sam Allardyce stepping down earlier this week.
The 52-year-old, who is assistant manager at Premier League side Southampton, will feature in an article tomorrow, the club been confirmed.
The newspaper claims Mr Black was filmed naming staff at other clubs who could be induced to pass on information about players to a company for money.
However, earlier tonight, he denied any wrongdoing.
Saints pre-empted the newspapers’ latest round of articles under the strapline ’Football For Sale’ by saying they had requested details from the Telegraph – a request they said had been turned down.
The club’s statement read: “Southampton Football Club has today been made aware by The Daily Telegraph that, as part of their ongoing investigation, the club’s assistant first team manager Eric Black will feature as part of an article in tomorrow’s paper.
“The club immediately requested to be sent, by The Daily Telegraph, the details of this article, but the newspaper declined to share any further information.
“We have today contacted The FA and The Premier League, and intend to work closely with both bodies on this matter when the facts become clear.
“Southampton Football Club is fully committed to investigating any situation that directly or indirectly relates to our club, employees or the wider community.”
A spokesman for Mr Black said: “Mr Black does not recall Mr McGarvey making suggestions that football officials should be paid during transfer negotiations – this was not the purpose of the meeting so far as our client understood it. Any suggestion that he was complicit in such discussions is false.”
Black was appointed to Southampton’s coaching staff during the summer as assistant to Claude Puel.
He scored the first goal in the Dons’ historic Cup Winners Cup triumph against Real Madrid in 1983.
